Do Lexapro-induced tremors go away?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Do Lexapro-induced tremors go away?
Lexapro-induced tremors do go away, but whether or not you should continue the medication depends on the severity of your side effects. Tremors are quite rare on Lexapro and are not considered a common early side effect of this medication.
If you’re new to Lexapro or antidepressants in general and you experience shaky hands, it will most likely subside on its own as your body adjusts to the medication.
If you’re not a new user and your dose has recently escalated, your shakiness could be because of the increased dose and can do away as you adjust to it.
However, intense tremors on Lexapro don’t really go away on their own. Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider to discuss the safety and efficacy of future use of Lexapro.
What does research suggest?
There is limited research on tremors caused particularly by Lexapro. However, research does show a possible link between the two. A 2019 case study included a patient with extrapyramidal-type side effects while being treated with Lexapro (1).
The patient experienced tremors in his upper extremities, which led to the discontinuation of the treatment with Lexapro. Other case studies also showed Parkinson-like side effects of Lexapro, which also included tremors (2).
This indicates that Lexapro can trigger tremors in some cases. However, the incidence of this side effect is low and it is not that commonly reported.
One important thing to note is that an individual’s response to Lexapro can vary. Some people may have some factors that could contribute to tremors, like an underlying psychosis or mania.
What to do if Lexapro causes tremors?
Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience tremors on Lexapro. As I discussed in the previous section, shakiness during the early course of your treatment is generally nothing to worry about.
However, essential tremors on Lexapro do not go away on their own and the first step to getting rid of them is Lexapro discontinuation. Tremors usually get resolved in some time after ceasing Lexapro, but some people may struggle for a longer period of time.
In such cases, doctors prescribe some medications for symptomatic relief. Some of the meds include:
- Propranolol
- Primidone
- Gabapentin
- Benzodiazepines
- Botulinum toxin
All of these treatment options can resolve tremors. However, the best one for you is determined by your doctor. This is why it’s recommended to always consult your doctor in case you’re struggling with a side effect. Don’t stop taking this antidepressant without talking to your doctor first.
Lexapro may make some people feel worse before better, but it does start working eventually and make your mental health better. Just give the medication and your body some time to adjust. If the side effects you are experiencing are intolerable, your doctor will safely switch you to another medication.
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References
1.-
Kumar PNS, Krishnan AG, Suresh R. Escitalopram-induced extrapyramidal symptoms. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019 May-Jun;61(3):318-319. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_331_18. PMID: 31142916; PMCID: PMC6532473. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6532473/
2.-
Ak S, Anıl Yağcıoğlu AE. Escitalopram-induced Parkinsonism. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2014 Jan-Feb;36(1):126.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2013.09.010. Epub 2013 Oct 5. PMID: 24176515. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24176515/
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